Poultry feeder



Nov. 24, 1953 I G. KALB 2,660,150

POULTRY FEEDER Filed Dec. 12, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l 21 24 BM zfmz, mww

AT TORNEXS G. L. KALB POULTRY FEEDER Nov. 24, 1953 ZSheetS-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 12, 1952 INVENTOR. W

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ATTOKNEYS- Patented Nov. 24, 1953 POULTRY FEEDER George L. Kalb, Middletown, Ohio, assignor to Aeronca Manufacturing Corporation, Middletown, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application December 12, 1952, Serial No. 325,589

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to poultry feeders of the type consisting of a hopper or casing having a feed pan associated with the lower end thereof.

In the past such feeders have been cylindrical in construction and have presented serious storage and shipping problems because of their size. It is the object of the present invention to provide an improved poultry feeder of knock-down construction which incorporates novel means for joining the various parts in assembly, whereby the unit may be stored and shipped in flat condition, and subsequently set up for use quickly and easily without the use of tools.

In the preferred embodiment, the hopper is rectangular, consisting of four identical fiat panels which are joined at their respective side edges by a novel interlocking flange and tab construction. The same general construction is also utilized for the feed pan, it consisting of four identical panels constituting side walls and a square sheet constituting a bottom. An outstanding feature of thepresent feeder construction resides in the means which are provided for joining the hopper and pan. In the preferred embodiment, the means consist of a pair of metal rods which are mounted in the pan in crossed relationship. The respective rods transverse apertures in the side walls of the pan and in the lower ends of the panels making up the hopper. The respective rods are configurated to interlock with one another where they cross so that additional fastener means, such as cotter pins, are not required.

Other objects and features of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description of the drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a poultry feeder incorporating the principles of the present invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view taken on the line 2-2 in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a reduced fragmentary perspective view illustrating the means for fastening the hopper to the pan. In this view the fastening means fastening means illustrated in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figured showing the fastening means under conditions in which the hopper is loaded.

Figure 7 is a View similar to Figure 5 showing the fastening means interlocked under the conditions illustrated in Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a side elevational view of one of the hopper panels.

Figure 9 is a side elevational view of one of the feed pan side panels.

Figure 10 is a to plan view of the bottom panel of the feed pan.

The hopper or casing of the poultry feeder is indicated generally at [0. The hopper comprises four identical side panels each of which is indicated by the numeral H. One of these panels is shown in Figure 8. The panel is formed from galvanized sheet metal, approximately 28 gauge, by ordinary stamping and dieing operations. The panel tapers from the bottom edge to the top edge, with the top edge being doubled over to provide a bead [2. As seen in Figure 8, the left side edge of the panel H is turned over at a right angle to provide a flange i3. The oppo-. site edge, the right one as seen in Figure 8, has a plurality of small rounded tabs l4 extending outwardly therefrom; Oppositev each of the tabs I4, and adjacent the inner edge of flange l3, slots l5, complementing tabs it, are stamped in the panels. In the instance shown, four tabs and four slots are provided.

The same general construction is utilized for the pan portion of the feeder, the pan being indicated generally at it. The material for the pan may be the same as that used for the hopper panels. As seen in Figure 9, each side panel I! of the pan is in the shape of an isosceles trapezoid in which the upper edge is substantiallylonger than the lower edge, so that when the four panels are assembled the sides of the pan flare outwardly. The left-hand edge of the panels IT, as seen in Figure 9, is flanged as at is, the same as the left-hand edge of hopper panel H. The opposite edge has a tab [9, similar to a tab l4,

and a slot 20 is provided adjacent flange. i 8 which is similar to the slots IS. The bottom edge of panel I! is also flanged as at 2|, and in the instance shown, has two slots 22 which are stamped" through the panel just inwardly of flange 2!.

The upper edge of panel I! is turned inwardly.

and then doubled back upon itself to provide a beaded edge 23. The bottom for the pan is indi" cated generally at 24 and comprises a square sheet of galvanized metal having tabs 25 extending from its respective edges which are designed to engage slot 22 in the lower edge of side panel l1.

Assembly of the hopper and of the pan is sub- 2,660,150 s 4 stantially the same. In the hopper the four the difference in the interlocking relationship of panels are secured together by inserting the tabs the rods under loaded and unloaded conditions M, at the left edge of one panel, in the slots 15 probably would not exist. But as a practical at the right edge of an adjo panel. The tabs matter, from their very nature, the rods cannot are then bent over as shown in Figures 1-4. The 5 be manufactured and installed with this degree same technique is employed in assembling the of precision. Thus, the two rods where they meet side panels of the pan; however, the bottom panel at the. centen may fit togetherloosely under un- 24 must be taken into consideration and.....fas -j .loaded conditions Butthisloqseffit is cured once tened to the side panels by engaging tabs '25 in the pan has a load placed upon it. The two conslots 22 before securing tabs 19 in slots 29. The 10 ditions at the center of the rods are shown reassembly provided in each instance is strengthspectively in Figures 5 and 7. In Figure 5, the ened by the overlapping relationship of the edge ilc'ios'fit under unloaded conditions is shown; and flanges. (See Figure 2.) g l .in lf'igu 7, .t ght interlock provided under As is the usual practice,; bfaiil' 6 s 4, illustrated. for hanging the feeder fron'i'a supper-ti a'r'itage to the present cross bar the pan off the ground. The bail as s 00 at the two rods lock themselves Figure 1 is generally triangular in shape havingagai'rfit'displacernent as well as looking the hopside arms 2'I2'|, which meet at a pointcentered per against displacement relative to the pan. with respect to the vertical axis of the hopper, The cylindrical poultry feeders provided hereand pivots 2828 which ar engaged apertures 20 tofore an equivalent size required ,from twenty 22 f ornrled in opposite panels adjacent their retothirty times the amount of storage and shipspe'ctive' upp'er edges. H V I v ping space. it is found that the present feeders The two elements of the assembly, the hopper in knock-downcondition can be shipped in a carand'the' pan; are secured together by a pair of ton 7 approximately twenty inches long, ten cross rods 36. Each rod is formd'irom a length 25 inches wid and not over an inch and a half of-heavy'galvanize'd wire, for eggample diam: thick; The compact carton maybe handled eter. An aperture 3| is formed in each of the more readily and isless likely to be damaged durs ide-p'anels ll of the pan onthe vertical center ing shipment than the bulky cartons required" for i betw e it respective e d app m stlconi uct o lyrnifdway between the horizontal center line and aving described my invention, ,1 cla'img fie' ilpi i-f edge Ofl P3 In m g# 3; he poultry feeder comprising a hopper having l l 's in the p e F'Q DPQ B e another: four identicalside panels, each side panel taper ii'iposition to receive the respective ends or the in f om bottom to top, a plurality of tabs fex- 5 3.- 9f t id an 1" f h il p nd ng om n e Q a a el;afla ee has three apertures init which are aligned vertii turned inwardly at right angles from the opposite deny with respect toone a o e adi e t e side edge'oi saidpanel, a" plurality of slots in the 9 fwe' sf h r f- These ne -r m ide rne dja ent sai e; sa d ots o cat djat 32 (see Figure 3.) rod ENLinas ljlementing saidta n engaged: ew semblihe e-two el ments, s l'fea j thro h f ed'pan, said feed pan having a bottoin and ah erture in aside panel I'I-ofthe' pan, through one ofth three apertures 32 in one of the side panels ll of thehopper, then. throughthe cor responding aperture 32 inan opposite side panel ofthe hopper-,and then'throughthe aperture 3! in the opposite-side panel H of the pan. This is h d hed es i th e ectivewall' i and ly acjg omm jplanega pair rods being'jdisposedj in cros'sejdure with each" rod traversing the aper- The three vertically aligned'holes 32 provide means for adjusting the hopper vertically with respect tothe bottom'oi the pan forphanging therateoffiow of feed from-the hopper into the Herjthe 'two rods cross at theirjrespective f t t m s, iac meh t ar 'd loe'ging thihopperagainst insw 5 Q 1.3 i Q a, pacemen re a ive o e pan;

riding to approximately its-diameter.

" 4 ,the interlocking oftlie-two'oii sietp of the respective rods 15- tightenedwhen" References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED I eams PATENTS opposite sid walls ort e ah andjhop ht' is placed in'thepan; Whei i tliere isfno' v r ic tendiiig't o p n the pan downwardly; with g i Yo g v fi resp t t 0 thihopioer, thetwo IOdS fiTe under 56722? i D3122. utu'stress'. However, w en weig t is 'pla'ce'd ih f 5 ge the'pan, 'for'eiiam'ple the weight'of feed in -g .e e iii-,2, 1,913 fill'd liopper,thetwo'rodstend to 'bow'up'wa'rdlyi' 1 2 m .g; y 2 M6 Under-these conditions, the two ofisets 33at the"- S g- .6 centers of the respective rods. tend to bite-into? .Q5%. Hen h June, 18, 19: 5 one anotherz' Ifitwerepossible from a practical 5E3? considerate Prov-ids was which We 2:475:20? sit-ill 1': 11:1' 1 its 5:- 1949* solutely straight and otherwise perfectly formed, 

